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Headquarters,  D 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #896 

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HEAD  QUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  No.  2. 

Tupelo.  Miss.,  June  27th,  1862. 

I 'i  RSUANl  to  the  orders  of  the  President,  I  assume  the  perma- 
nent command  of  the  Forces  in  this  Department.  The  weighty 
duties,  the  grave  responsibilities  of  the  place,  the  momentous  issues 
impending,  and  my  high  sense  of  the  eminent  capacities  of  the 
distinguisned  leader  and  soldier,  whom  I  have  succeeded,  make 
me  accept  the  position  with  unfeigned   reluctance. 

Relying  however  on  the  justice  of  the  cause  of  an  invaded 
people,  in  the  zeal  and  skill  of  subordinate  officers  of  all  ranks, 
and  confidently  depending  on  the  unswerving  bravery,  devotion  and 
individual  intelligence,  of  a  soldiery,  lighting  on  their  own  soil,  at 
the  very  doors  of  their  own  homes,  in  defence  of  all  worth  living 
for,  or  that  has  ever  inspired  men  to  heroism,  1  enter  hopefully  on 
my  duties. 

l>ut,  Soldiers,  to  secure  the  legitimate  results  of  all  your  heavy 
sacrifices,  which  have  brought  this  army  together,  to  infuse  that 
unity  and  cohesion,  essential  for  a  resolute  resistance  to  the  wicked 
invasion  of  our  country,  and  to  give  to  serried  ranks  force,  impetus 
and  direction, for  driving  the  invader  beyond  our  borders,  be  assured, 
discipline  at  all  times,  ami  obedience  to  the  orders  of  your  officers 
on  all  points,  as  a  sacred  duty,  an  act  of  patriotism,  i^  of  absoluti 
necessity.  Without  this  spirit,  the  bravest  army,  must  sink  soon 
intoan  armed  rabble,  as  impotent  for  defence  as  of  offence.  I  shall 
proudly  hope  to  see  this  spirit  in  the  brave  men  of  Shiloh  and  of 
K  Ik  horn, —  hope  to  see  them  ;i>  soldiery,  and  obedient  to  neeessar. 
authority,  as  becomes  brave  men,  called  to  arms  to  battle  for  the 
right  to  live  in  independence. 

Soldiers,  great  events  are  impending  :  an  insolent  but  wary  foe. 
has  invested  the  seal  of  your  Government.  Your  brethren  of  the 
Armies  of  the  Potomac  and  of  the  Peninsula,  stand  steadfastly  to 
their  posts,  to  meet  the  desperate  conflict,  which  must  soon  come. 
1  doubt  not  victory  will  be  with  them.  Others  of  your  country. 
.  under  the  lead  of  Jackson  and  Ewell,  in  the  valley  of  "Vir» 
ginia,  have  recently  shed  imperishable  renown  on  our  arms,  and 
n  what  a   small,  obedient,  diciplined  Volunteer  Army  can  do. 

A  few  more  days  of  needful  preparation  and  organization,  and  .1 
shall  give  your  banners  to  the  breeze— shall  lead  you  to  emulate  the 
soldiers  of  the  Confederacy  in  the  East,  and  with  the  confident 
that  you  will  gain  additional  honor-  to  those  you  have  already 
won  on  other  fields:  but  be  prepared  to  undergo  privation  and  labor 
with  cheerfulness  and  alacrity. 

(Signed.,  PRAXTOX  BRAGG, 

Gen'l   Commanding. 
-OFFICIAL- 

(Sigued,)  THOMAS  JORDAN, 

Chief  of  Stall. 
— OFFICIAL' — 


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